Air propeller attachment for marine engines



June 15, 1965 H. J. BARTEN 3,188,995

AIR PROPELLER ATTACHMENT FOR MARINE ENGINES Filed Aug. 23, 1963 2 Sheets+Sheet 1 u 7 $354 INVENTOR.

June 15, 1965 H. J. BARTEN 3,188,995

AIR PROPELLER ATTACHMENT FOR MARINE ENGINES Filed Aug. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE YS United States Patent 3,188,995 AIR PRGPELLER ATTACHMENT FUR hIARlNE ENGINES Henry I. Barten, 217 Greenwood Drive, West Palm Beach, Fla. Filed Aug. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 304,105 9 Claims. (Cl. 1l5.5)

This invention relates generally to an air propeller attachment for marine engines and more particularly relates to an attachment adapted to be connected to a marine engine of the type generally classified as outboard for propelling a boat by means of an air propeller instead of the usual water propeller. The attachment of the present invention permits alternate use of a water propeller and an air propeller, provides an air propeller operable within the rpm. range of the usual water propeller, can be con structed for integral or non-integral assembly with an outboard motor, is simple in design and construction and is easy to connect and to operate.

Air propeller driven boats are known wherein a gasoline powered marine engine is connected by suitable drive means to an air propeller mounted on the boat above the water line for propelling the boat by means of air propulsion rather than by means of the usual water propulsion. This type of propulsion has particular utility when navigating waters wherein vegetation, debris or other undesirable matter is situated at or closely below the water line and is capable of fouling a water propeller. As an example, air propeller driven boats are used extensively in certain marsh or swamp lands situated in the State of Florida.

The marine engines used to power the air propeller of known air propeller driven boats are of the so-called inboard variety as contrasted with the outboard variety. Generally, the air propeller is rotatably mounted at the stern of the boat, and is connected by suitable drive means, such as a chain linkage or V-belt drive, to an inboard marine engine. A water propeller is not usually connected to the engine since the normal inboard marine engine drives a water propeller from a drive shaft connected directly to the crankshaft of the engine and extending downwardly and rearwardly through the bottom of the boat into the water. Since it is impractical to retract or disconnect such a water propeller drive shaft from a boat for use over marsh or swamp areas wherein such shaft would become entangled with vegetation, air propeller driven boats are generally not equipped for water propeller operation and generally do not include a water propeller drive shaft extending from the bottom thereof.

As a result, air propeller driven boats of the prior art are not particularly suited for alternate water and air propulsion.

Further, inboard type marine engines have certain disadvantages as contrasted with the outboard variety. Inboard engines are permanently mounted within a boat and cannot be readily removed for servicing operations. Inboard engines cannot be easily utilized successively on a number of boats by simply unclamping the engine from one boat and clamping it on another, as is generally the case with the outboard type. Further, engines of the outboard variety incorporate a pivotal propeller drive shaft which can be easily and quickly tilted for raising the water propeller above the water line, a feature particularly useful in connection with air propeller driven boats as will be described hereinafter and such feature is not available in engines of the inboard type.

' As used in this application, the term outboard engine is not meant to be restrictive to engines of the two-cycle type, but is meant to include all marine engines having a lower housing or drive shaft capable of being tilted so as 3,188,995 Patented June 15, 1965 to completely remove the drive shaft and the water propeller from the water without disconnecting the lower housing or drive shaft from the engine.

In view of the above, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome many of the deficiencies of the prior art by providing an air propeller attachment for a boat utilizing an outboard engine such that air propulsion and water propulsion are alternatively available Without extensive removal, modification or disengagement of parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a boat wherein an air propeller can be conveniently driven from an outboar engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat utilizing an engine of the pivotal drive shaft type with an air propeller attachment to render such boat capable of dealing with or negotiating clear water and marsh areas with facility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air propeller attachment adapted for operating in conjunction with an outboard marine engine.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects will become manifest to those versed in the art from the detailed description of the invention which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred embodiments of an outboard marine engine and an air propeller attachment incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

PIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a boat assembly including an outboard engine and one embodiment of an air propeller attachment incorporating the principles of the present invention, with certain portions shown in phantom;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the boat assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the outboard engine of FEGURE 1 showing a power shaft thereof with a flexible power transmitting member attached thereto;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a boat assembly including an outboard engine and another embodirnent of an air-propeller attachment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the boat assembly of FIGURE 4 showing portions cut away.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are of utility in association with any marine engine of the type incorporating pivotal mounting for the drive shaft or lower housing, a particularly useful application is made to engines of the type normally carried by the transomof the boat at the stern thereof, and an illustrative embodiment herein shown consists of a multi-cylinder two-cycle gasoline operated outboard marine engine shown generally at 10 in FIGURE 1 wherein is illustrated an engine housing 11 having a lower housing or drive shaft housing 12 rigidly connected thereto and depending therefrom. The engine 10 is shown mounted on a transom board 13 of a boat 14 and is fixedly clamped thereto above a Water line 15 by means of a clamp bracket 16. The lower housing 12, and accordingly the entire engine It), is mounted for pivotal movement on the clamp bracket 16 by means of a pivot bar 17, and such movement is inpa plane transverse to the plane of the transom 13. The pivot bar 17 also permits rotation of the engine 10 about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower housing 12.

One embodiment of an air propeller attachment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown and through the usual water propeller34.

to this end a pair of angularly upwardlyexten'ding con-.

verging V-members22, 22.are pivotallyiconnected to a pair of mounting brackets 23, 23' which are clamped to the transom 13 on either side of the engine clamp bracket 16. To provide for alternate or supplemental steering effect, an air rudder 21a is mounted on the mounting block 20 adjacent the air propeller 21. v ".I

At the converging ends of the .V-members' 22, 22 a mounting plate 24 is fixedly connected thereto by means of bolt 26 and for additional rigiditya pair ofgusset plates 24w are secured by suitable means, such as a Welded connection, to the V-members'22, 22 and the mounting'plate 24. The mounting block 20 is mounted for horizontal rotation on the mounting plate 24.by'means of a bearing assembly as at 27. A propeller shaft journal member 23 and a. centrifugal clutch member28cz are connected in fixed assembly to the mounting block and a propeller shaft 29 on which the air propeller. 21 is mounted, 'is carried for rotation in the mounting block 29 and the journal member 28. Fixedly connected at one end to the centrifugal clutch 28a is. a flexible force transmitting cable 31 of a'type Well known in the art. At the opposite end of the cable 31 a power take-off portion or-assembly bracket 23 by means of ance with which the holes 54 in the V-members 22,

4. mounting pins as at 50. The other end of each of the lift bars 49, 49 is pivotally connected to an intermediate 7 portion 51 of a respective V-member 22 by means of an adjusting bolt as at 52, which is inserted through abolt-hole 53 formed in each ofthe lift bars 49, 49 and one'of a number of axially spaced holesas at 54 formed in the intermediate portions 51'. Accordingly, the angle of the main frame 19 and consequently the plane of rotation of the air propeller 21, relative to the bolt 14, is selectively adjustable in accord- 22 are selected to receive the adjusting bolts 52..

In order to control :steering of the. boat14 under air propulsion operation, a steering handle 56 is fixedly connected at one end 57 to the mounting block 20 and extends at its opposite end 58 to a position providing easy access thereto by a person who may beiseated at the stern of the boat. Lateral movement of the'handle 56 will pivot the planeof rotation of theair propeller 21 as well as the air rudder 21a substantially about the bearing assembly 27, which will in turn tend to steer, the directionof movement of the boat accordingly.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2 is definedasbeinga non-integral unit, that 32 is formed thereon and is adapted to connect to a power shaft for transmitting rotative movement to the air propeller 21. V

FIGURE 3 illustrates a water propeller powershaft 33 extending from the lower housing 12 of the engine '19 Itwill be understood that the shaft 33 is operatively connected to'the main drive shaft (not shown) of the engine 16 which'is journalled for rotation within the lower housing 12.

Mounted on the shaft 33 adjacent an extension 36 of the propeller 34 is a connector collarmember 37 main tained in fixed assembly on the shaft 33 by means of a retainer pin 38. A bolt-type shear pin 391s inserted through aligned threaded apertures 40. and 41 formed respectively in the shaft33 andin a portion '42 of the; collar 37 which overlies the propeller extension 36.

Thev power take-off assembly 32 of the cable 31 comprises an inflexible squared solid end portion which is received in friction-locking relation with a complementarily shaped opening 43 formed in the collar member 37. In operation, the connector collar 37 canbe continuously connected to the shaft- 33, even during periods of conventional water propeller operation. When air propeller operation is desired, the, cable 3:1v can be connected to the connector collar 37 withoutdisturbing the shaft 33 or the Water propeller. 34. Operation. of the air propeller21 requires,,therefore,' only that the cable power take-off assembly 32-be connected to the connector collar member 37; Preferably, the lower housing 12 of the engine 10 is is, the air propeller attachment 19 is-not mounted directly on the engine 10 but is instead mounted on the transom 13.and fixedly connected thereto by tightening knobs as M59. The onlyconnection between the attachment 19 and the engine 10 is through the flexible cable 31. V

1 'In FIGURES 4 and 5 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated, which is defined as being an int egral unit, wherein an air propeller attachment indicated 7 generallyat 60 is mounted directly on a lower'housing 61 2 housing 61 has been cut away as at 67 and a bevel gear 68 is mounted for corotation on the drive shaft 64 and comprises a power take-off from the shaft 64.

An attachment housing '69 is fixedly. mounted on the lower housing .61 by suitable means such as a .Welded joint as at 70. A shaft 71 is mountedfor rotation within the housing 69 at right angles. to thedriveshaft 64 and V is supported by means ofa bearing member as at 72.

A :bevel gear 74 is mounted on-the lower end 76 of the shaft 71*.for meshing engagement with the bevel. gear 68. V V 1 v Another shaft .77 is axially aligned withthe shaft 71 and is supported forrotation by means of a bearing member 78. In order to reduce inertia forces during starting of the engine 62 a known centrifugal clutch 79 connects tilted or pivoted out of the water to a position as illus-. 1

trated in FIGURES 1 and 2 during air propulsion operation to avoid entanglement with vegetation and other debris that might be located at or near the surfaceofthe water. Converting back to water propulsion requires only that the power take-off assembly 32 be disconnected'fromthe collar member 37 and thenthe lower housing 12be' pivoted to .its normal position, wherein its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel toandoutboard of the transom 13. b V

In order to vary the plane of rotation of the air propeller 21 relative to the boat 14, whichin turn. effects the plane or lift of the boat as it moves through the water, the

V-members 22, 22 of the main frame 19 are pivotally connected to the mounting brackets 23, 23 by means of mounting pins as at 48. The position of the main frame the shafts 71 and 77 and engages to transmit rotation from the shaft 71 to the shaft. 77 only when the shaft. 71 has attained a predetermined minimum r.p.m. Shafts 80 ing'engagement with a gear ,84 on a. propeller shaft 86 by means oflabearing member 87. Shaft 80 is supported for both axial and rotative movement by a bearing member 88 and is splined at one end as at 89 for corotation 19 relative to the water line may be selectively. adjustably varied by means of lift bars 49, 49 which are. pivotally with the shaft 77. A collar member 90 is fixedly mounted forrotationon the shaft and receivesa bifurcated member 91 which'is pivoted as at 92 and extends from the housing 69 at one :end thereof to. form a handle portion 93. Pivotal movement of the handle portion 93 causes the member 91 to engage the collar for moving the shaft 80. axially telescopically relative to, the .shaft 77. a

At interfacing ends of shafts 80 and 81 engaging portions 94 and 95 of a dog clutch are mounted respectively thereon and are adapted to engage shafts 80 and 81 in response to movement of the handle 93. Accordingly, the air propeller can be engaged or disengaged from the engine 62 as desired.

The propeller shaft 86 is journalled in a bearing which is supported by a web 97 attached to a flange plate 98 which is connected in fixed assembly to a top face 99 and an end plate 100 of the housing 69 by suitable means such as a weld joint.

In order to permit steering rotation of the engine 62 about an axis perpendicular to the surface of the water, the clamping device 63a comprises a generally U-shaped bracket 101 and a transom mounting support 102. The engine mounting brackets 63, 63 are securely fastened to the bracket 101 by means of tightening knobs 102. The U-shaped bracket 101 is pivotally connected to the mounting support 102 by means of a vertical pivot pin 103, and the support 102 is clamped to the transom board 13 by means of tightening knobs 104.

During periods of air propulsion operation, the lower housing 61 of the engine 62 is pivoted downwardly about a pin 106 carried by the mounting brackets 63, 63 to a raised position as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, wherein the lower housing 61 is situated above the water line 15 and the plane of rotation of the air propeller 82 is substantially at right angles to the water line 15. The lower housing 61 may be locked in this raised position by the usual locking means (not shown) normally included in outboard engines. Steering of the boat under air propulsion operation may be accomplished by providing lateral movement to a steering handle 107 connected to the engine 62 which provides rotative movement to the lower housing 61 about a steering shaft 108. In this manner, the propelling effect of the propeller 82 can be situated at either side of the longitudinal axis of the I boat 14, thereby controlling the direction of movement thereof.

When it is desired to use water propulsion, the lower housing 61 is pivoted about the pin 106 to a position wherein the lower housing 61 assumes a position substantially parallel to the transom board 13 and at right angles to the water line 15. The attachment housing 69 would thereby extend substantially horizontally from the lower housing 61 and the handle 93 would be pivoted for disengaging the air propeller 82 from the drive shaft 64 In order to prevent the air propeller 82 from dipping into the water during periods of water propulsion operation, a bore 105 is formed to extend transversely through the air propeller 82 adjacent the propeller shaft 86, and a complementarily shaped bore 109 is formed in the bearing 96. A rod or pin (not shown) may be inserted into bores 165 and 1% to maintain the air propeller in a position substantially parallel to the water line when the engine 62 has been pivoted downwardly for Water propulsion operation.

Accordingly, there has been provided an integral and non-integral air propeller attachment for a marine engine of the outboard type whereby a single engine can be used for both water and air propulsion. From the standpoint of engine modification, the non-integral arrangement requires only that a flexible cable be connected to the water propeller of the engine for power take-off. The integral arrangement requires some modification to the engine but has the added advantages of greater support for the air propeller, greater balance to the entire boat assembly as it rides in the water and provides for clutch means for easy engagement and disengagement of the air propeller.

Although various modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted herein all such modifica- 6 tions as come Within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, for use on a boat,

a marine engine of the outboard type adapted to be mounted on the boat and having a water propeller drive shaft pivotally connected thereto for movement into and out of the water,

a rotatable air propeller drive shaft having an air propeller mounted thereon and adapted for mounting on the boat, and flexible power transmitting means for operatively connecting said water propeller drive shaft to said air propeller drive shaft for driving said air propelle whereby said engine is adapted to provide power for both water and air propulsion and whereby said water propeller drive shaft can be pivotally moved out of the water during air propulsion operation and can be moved into the Water during water propulsion operation while said force transmitting means is connected between said drive shafts.

2. In combination with a boat having a transom board,

a marine engine of the outboard type having a water propeller drive shaft pivotally mounted thereon for movement alternatively into and out of the water and adapted to be mounted on the boat,

a frame adapted for mounting on the transom board and for extending from the stern of the boat,

a horizontally disposed air-propeller shaft having an air propeller mounted thereon for propelling said boat by air propulsion,

mounting means for mounting said air propeller shaft on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis and for rotation about a vertical axis transverse to said longitudinal axis,

flexible force transmitting means connected to said water propeller shaft and to said air propeller shaft for driving said air propeller, and

steering means connected to said mounting means and adapted to be operable from said boat for rotating said air propeller shaft about said vertical axis and independently of said water propeller drive shaft for steering said boat when under air propulsion.

3. In combination,

a boat having a transom board at the stern thereof,

a marine engine mounted on the boat,

said engine having a lower housing including a drive shaft situated astern of the transom board and pivotally movable relative to the transom board,

an attachment housing fixedly mounted on said lower housing,

an air propeller journalled for rotation on said attachment housing,

drive means rotatably carried by said attachment housing and operatively connected to said air propeller, and

power take-off means on said drive shaft connected to said drive means for driving said air propeller from said engine.

4. In combination, for use on a boat having a transom board,

a marine engine adapted for mounting on the boat and of the type having a lower housing including a drive shaft adapted to be situated astern of the transom board and to be pivotally movable relative to the transom board,

an attachment housing fixedly mounted on said lower housing,

an air propeller journalled for rotation on said attachment housing,

drive means rotatably carried by said attachment housing and operatively connected to said air propeller, and

power take-oifmeans on said drive shaft connected to said drive means for driving said air propeller from said engine. 7 n d 5. In combination,'foruse von a boat having a transom board, 7

a marine engine adapted to be mounted on the transom board and having a lower housing including a drive' 7 shaft pivotally movable relative to the transom board, an attachment having-an airpropeller rotatably mounted thereon, V i p said attachment being fixedly connected to said lower housing, drive means carried by said attachment and operatively connected to said air propeller, and power take-off means on said drive shaft and connected to said drive means for driving said air propeller- 7 said drive means adapted to engage in driving 7 relation the pOWfiiYdflkC-Ofii means for driving said air propeller from said engine.

V 7..An, attachmentv for use with an outboard marine engine having a pivotal lower housing including a'drive shaft and a power take-off gear means on said drive shaft comprising, t

a housing adapted to be fixedly connected to said lower housing,

an air propeller journalled for rotation on said housing, i

drive means including a manually operable. clutch means rotatably mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said air propeller, and gear means on said drive means adapted to engage in driving relation the power take-off gearl means for driving said air propeller from said enginef 8. Apparatus for driving a boat by means of air propulsion'and water propulsion'comprising,

a marine engine having an elongated lower housing, a a waterpropeller drive shaft mounted at a lower end ofsaid housing for receiving a water propeller, means carried on said lower housing for attaching said housing to the boat to provide pivotal movement of said housing in a vertical plane to alternatively swing the water propeller into the water to drive the boat by means of Water propulsion and-to swing the water propeller out of the 'water and also to provide rotatable movement of .said lower housing about the longitudinal axis thereof to steering the boat when driven by'water propulsion, I I xan air propeller,mounting frame including means for securely attaching said frame to the boat, an air propeller power shaft having an, air propeller mounted thereon for driving the boat by means of air propulsion,

v mounting means mounting said air propeller drive 10 h shaft'arld said air propeller on said frame to provide pivotalmovement of said air propeller to steer the "'boatwhen'driven by air propulsion, and

a flexible force transmitting member interconnecting saidwater propeller drive shaft and said air propeller drive shaft; 7'

9. In combinatiomfor driving a boat through water by means .of water propulsion and air propulsion,

a marine engine of the outboard type comprising an'elongated lower housing. having a water propeller powershaft for driving a water propeller,

clampingmeans including a clamp bracket mounted on said lower housing and adapted to be securely attached to a transom board of the boat to accommodate pivotal movement of said lower housing between alower'position whereby the'water'propeller is submerged beneath the water to drive the boat by means of water propulsion and an upper position whereby the water propeller positioned out of'the Water,

aframe having an air propeller drive shaft rotatably mounted thereon,

" an air'propeller mounted on said air propeller drive shaft to, drive the boat by means of air propulsion,

mounting means including mounting brackets connected tojsaid frame and adapted to be securely attached to the transom board to mount said frame thereon independently of-saidengine,

' said frame being arranged so that in the mounted position thereofonthe transom board said frame and said air propeller are positioned out of the water, and" flexible force transmitting means interconnecting said drive shaft of said water propeller and said air propeller.

v References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Riedel"-i ;;11s- 18 1,834,06 12/3 1 Merickle-. -18 "2,839,696 6/58 Dunharn 7416X MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, FOR USE ON A BOAT, A MARINE ENGINE OF THE OUTBOARD TYPE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE BOAT AND HAVING A WATER PROPELLER DRIVE SHAFT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THERETO FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF THE WATER, A ROTATABLE AIR PROPELLER DRIVE SHAFT HAVING AN AIR PROPELLER MOUNTED THEREON AND ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON THE BOAT, AND FLEXIBLE POWER TRANSMITTING MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID WATER PROPELLER DRIVE SHAFT TO SAID AIR PROPELLER DRIVE SHAFT FOR DRIVING SAID AIR PROPELLER, WHEREBY SAID ENGINE IS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE POWER FOR BOTH WATER AND AIR PROPULSION AND WHEREBY SAID WATER PROPELLER DRIVE SHAFT CAN BE PIVOTALLY MOVED OUT OF THE WATER DURING AIR PROPULSION OPERATION AND CAN BE MOVED INTO THE WATER DURING WATER PROPULSION OPERATION WHILE SAID FORCE TRANSMITTING MEANS IS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID DRIVE SHAFTS. 